Apple Tree Named &#39;RS103-110&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinctive variety of a  Malus domestica  apple tree, named ‘RS103-110’that is distinguished by its medium vigor tree, fruit that matures immediately after ‘Royal Gala’, fruit that is small to medium in size with an obloid to globose shape and a foreground stripe that is dark red in color over a background that is yellow-green in color, fruit stem (pedicel) that can be very short and thick at the point of attachment to the spur, and resistance to apple scab, is disclosed.

Latin name: Botanical classification: Malus domestica.

Varietal denomination: The varietal denomination of the claimed appletree variety is ‘RS103-110’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Apples are an economically important crop. Accordingly, there exists aneed to develop new varieties of apple tree with improvedcharacteristics, such as disease resistance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to animproved variety of apple tree. In particular, the invention relates toa new and distinct variety of apple tree (Malus domestica), which hasbeen denominated as ‘RS103-110’.

‘RS103-110’ was identified in Applethorpe, Queensland Australia, andoriginated from a cross between seed parent ‘Royal Gala’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 4,121) and the proprietary pollen parent ‘CPR7T90’. The newvariety was selected for its unique traits (e.g., disease resistance)and evaluated at a research facility located in Applethorpe, QueenslandAustralia.

The new variety of apple tree was first asexually propagated in Year 1by taking scion wood from the original seedling of ‘RS103-110’ and topworked onto mature ‘Royal Gala’ apple trees on ‘MM.106’ rootstock. Scionwood was subsequently taken from these top worked trees to graft onto arange of rootstocks for a large scale productivity research trial whichwas planted at the research facility in Applethorpe, QueenslandAustralia in Year 3. ‘RS103-110’ has been found to reproduce true totype through the two generations of successive asexual propagations viascion wood grafting and budding onto rootstock.

The original ‘RS103-110’ apple tree and progeny have been observedgrowing in a cultivated area of Applethorpe, Queensland Australia. Thenew variety of apple tree produces fruit that matures for commercialharvesting in approximately mid-February to early-March in Queensland,Australia. This is later than the fruit of ‘Royal Gala’, which maturesfor commercial harvesting in early February to mid-February.

The ‘RS103-110’ apple tree variety is distinguished from ‘Royal Gala’ bythe following unique combination of characteristics:

a. Grows into a medium vigor tree with fruit that matures immediatelyafter ‘Royal Gala’ and strains of ‘Royal Gala’;

b. Fruit is small to medium in size with an obloid to globose shape;

c. Fruit has a foreground stripe that is dark red in color over abackground that is yellow-green in color;

d. Fruit stem (pedicel) can be very short and thick at the point ofattachment to the spur; and

e. Tree and fruit are resistant to apple scab (black spot) caused byraces 1 to 5 of the fungus Venturia inaequalis.

The ‘RS103-110’ apple tree variety is distinguished from ‘CPR7T90’ bythe following unique combination of characteristics:

a. ‘RS103-110’ matures approximately six to seven weeks earlier than‘CPR7T90’, which matures mid-season; and

b. Fruit of ‘RS103-110’ has a foreground stripe that is dark red incolor over a background that is yellow-green in color, whereas fruit ofCPR7T90’ is a solid red (RHS 46A) block color, without apparent stripes.

The ‘RS103-110’ apple tree variety may be further distinguished frompresently available apple tree varieties, for example, from ‘RedDelicious’ and ‘Fuji’, by the following distinguishing characteristics:

a. Tree and fruit are more disease resistant than are the tree and fruitof ‘Red Delicious’ and ‘Fuji’. Tree and fruit are resistant to applescab (black spot) caused by races 1 to 5 of the fungus Venturiainaequalis, whereas tree and fruit of ‘Red Delicious’ and ‘Fuji’ aresusceptible to apple scab (black spot) caused by races 1 to 5 of thefungus Venturia inaequalis.

Asexual reproduction of the ‘RS103-110’ apple tree variety by graftingand budding onto rootstock shows that the foregoing and all othercharacteristics and distinctions are true to type and are establishedand transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The ‘RS103-110’ apple tree variety is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show fruit of the tree, as well as the flowers. Thecolors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures. However, the colors in the photographs may varywith lighting conditions and, therefore, color characteristics of thisnew variety should be determined with reference to the observationsdescribed herein, rather than from the photographs alone. Thephotographs are from trees that are 10 years old.

FIG. 1 illustrates fruit of apple tree variety ‘RS103-110’.

FIG. 2 illustrates the colored side of fruit of apple tree variety‘RS103-110’.

FIG. 3 illustrates the reverse side of fruit of apple tree variety‘RS103-110’.

FIG. 4 illustrates fruit of apple tree variety ‘RS103-110’ on the tree(colored side).

FIG. 5 illustrates the inside flesh of fruit of apple tree variety‘RS103-110’.

FIG. 6 illustrates flowers of apple tree variety ‘RS103-110’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of‘RS103-110’. The following description is based on the originallyidentified apple tree and asexually reproduced progeny, grown on ‘M.26’rootstock at the research facility in Applethorpe, Queensland Australia.

Unless otherwise stated, the following description is based onobservations from 10-year-old trees growing on ‘M.26’ rootstock inQueensland, Australia.

Certain characteristics of this variety may change with changingenvironmental conditions (e.g., light, temperature, moisture, etc.),nutrient availability, or other factors. Quantified measurements areexpressed as an average of measurements taken from a number ofindividual plants of the new variety. The measurements of any individualplant, or any group of plants, of the new variety may vary from thestated average. Color descriptions and other terminology are used inaccordance with their ordinary dictionary descriptions, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. All color references are from theR.H.S. colour chart by The Royal Horticultural Society.

-   Tree:    -   -   Vigor.—Low to moderate.        -   Overall shape.—Spreading to slight drooping.        -   Height .—Approximately 2.02 m.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.60 m.        -   Caliper.—Approximately 57 mm at 100 mm above the graft            union, and ranging from approximately 210 mm to            approximately 320 mm above the ground.        -   Trunk.—Medium Stocky.        -   Trunk bark texture.—Smooth with raised, prominent lenticels.        -   Trunk lenticels.—Density, approximately 5/cm²; Shape: Round;            Color: About Yellow-White RHS 158A. Size: ranging from            approximately 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm in diameter.        -   Trunk bark color.—About Grey RHS 201C.        -   Patches or other markings.—No prominent spots or scales            evident.        -   Primary branches.—Stout; branches emerge at an angle of            approximately 60 to approximately 90 degrees with branches            higher in the tree emerging at approximately 60 degrees.            Exemplary 2-year-old primary branches have been observed to            have a caliper of approximately 11.4 mm measured at the            base. Measured trees are grown to a central leader system.            The typical and observed lateral branch length is 117.1 cm            (first primary branch above graft union and arising from            main stem). The diameter of the stem/trunk of the tree            measured by caliper at 300 mm above the crotch was an            average of 43.0 mm (the crotch on a central leader tree            being identified as the point where the first lateral limb            emerges).        -   Branch color.—One-year old branches are about Brown RHS 200B            in color, while older branches are about Black RHS 202C in            color.        -   Branch pubescence.—Absent.        -   Branch lenticels.—Low to medium density, approximately            7/cm²; Shape: Round to Oval; Color: About Yellow-White RHS            158A. Size: ranging from approximately 0.4 mm in diameter to            1.5 mm long by approximately 0.9 mm wide.        -   Internodes.—Average internode length is approximately 2.2 cm            for a 1-year old shoot.        -   Bearing.—Annual.        -   Hardiness.—Australian Zone hardy, comparable to ‘Cripps            Pink’.        -   Drought and insect resistance.—Comparable to ‘Cripps Pink’.        -   Disease resistance.—Bred using parent with Vf gene complex            conferring resistance to apple scab incited by the fungus            Venturia inaequalis.-   Leaves:    -   -   Texture.—Leathery.        -   Sheen.—Medium Glossy to slightly dull.        -   Length.—Approximately 6.3 cm to approximately 11.4 cm;            average approximately 8.8 cm (average measurement from 50            typical leaves).        -   Width.—Approximately 3.5 cm to approximately 7.0 cm, average            approximately 4.9 cm (average measurement from 50 typical            leaves).        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 35.5 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.6 mm. Color: About Yellow-Green RHS 144A,            tinged with about Greyed-Purple RHS 185B at point of            attachment.        -   Margin.—Finely serrated.        -   Tip surface.—Acute.        -   Stipules.—Either 1 or 2 present on 72% of leaves. Where            present, opposite, slender (approximately 0.14 mm to            approximately 0.95 mm), color about Yellow-Green RHS 144A,            length approximately 3.3 mm to approximately 15.7 mm.        -   Leaf color.—Upper leaf surface: About Green RHS 137A. Lower            leaf surface: About Yellow-Green RHS 146C.        -   Leaf vein color.—From about Greyed-Purple RHS 185B at the            base of the leaf (point of attachment to petiole) to about            Yellow-White RHS 145C at the apex.        -   Pubescence.—Absent to very fine on upper surface, to fine            (light) on lower surface but thicker on the veins.-   Flower:    -   -   General.—Size. — Medium. Approximately 40.3 mm in diameter            fully flattened. Shape. — Ovoid to round. Unopened bud: King            Bloom Length. — Approximately 10.4 mm to approximately 12.7            mm (average approximately 11.7 mm). Diameter. —            Approximately 8.8 mm to approximately 9.8 mm (average            approximately 9.4 mm). Color. — About Red-Purple RHS 60C.            Opened bud: Color. — About White RHS 155C with streaks to            about Red-Purple RHS 69B to Purple RHS 75C. Flower: Upper            petal surface: About White RHS 155C to about Red-Purple RHS            69B. Lower petal surface: About White RHS 155D to about            Red-Purple RHS 69B.        -   Petals.—Numbers of petals per flower. — 5. Petal size. —            Length: Approximately 17.2 mm. Width: Approximately 14.7 mm.            Petal shape. — Ovate in shape. Base: Slightly acuminate.            Apex: Rounded. Arrangement. — Separated but overlapping.        -   Sepals.—Number. — About 5 per flower. Length. —            Approximately 6.61 mm.. Width. — Approximately 2.20 mm.            Color. — Both upper and lower sepal surface: About            Yellow-Green RHS 144A. Arrangement. — Arranged separately.        -   Pedicel/Peduncle.—Apples do not have branched inflorescences            hence no pedicels. The flower stalk of an apple is the            peduncle. Length. — Approximately 17.21 mm (measured to            where receptacle is swelling). Diameter. — Approximately            1.23 mm. Color. — About Yellow-Green RHS 144B ranging to            Greyed-Green RHS 195A.        -   Stamen.—Number. — Approximately 18 to 20 per flower,            arranged in a row around the circumference of the            receptacle. Length. — Approximately 9.29 to approximately            11.08 mm. Filament color. — About Greyed-White RHS 156C.            Anthers. — About 18 to 20 per flower. Anther Color: About            RHS 5A. Unopened Anther Color: About Yellow RHS 5A. Pollen            color. — About Yellow RHS 4B.        -   Pistil.—General. — The stigma is about approximately 0.5 mm            long; styles are 5 in number, separated at base but held            tightly and entangled by fine hairs, and about Yellow-Green            RHS 144B in color.        -   Pollination requirements.—An early flowering variety e.g.,            ‘Braeburn’ or ‘Sundowner’is preferred. Later flowering            varieties e.g., ‘Granny Smith’ or ‘Cripps Pink’ will overlap            sufficiently in flowering to enable pollination.        -   Fragrance.—Slight.        -   Bloom season.—In Year 14 at the research station in            Queensland Australia, blooming began on the 17^(th) of            September with full bloom on the 28^(th) of September            finishing on the 5^(th) of October.-   Fruit:    -   -   General.—Measurements are the average of 10 typical            ‘RS103-110’ apples.        -   Size.—Small to medium. Length. — Approximately 62.4 mm.            Width. — Approximately 72.7 mm.        -   Shape.—Obloid to globose; no lobes observed at calyx end.            The calyx ranges from slightly open to open (0.6 mm to 6.1            mm, with an average of 2.4 mm for 10 fruit). Cavity. —            Approximately 29.9 mm wide with a depth of approximately            13.1 mm. Basin. — Concave shaped and approximately 28.4 mm            wide with a depth of approximately 6.9 mm.        -   Fruit stem.—Length. — Approximately 14.6 mm. Diameter. —            Approximately 2.2 mm. Color. — About Yellow-Green RHS 152A            to 152D.        -   Locules.—5 moderately open locules with seeds free of the            carpel wall at maturity. Locule length approximately 15.2 mm            (average of 50 locules from 10 fruit cut longitudinally).            Locule width approximately 7.9 mm (average of 50 locules            from 10 fruit with transverse cut).        -   Fruit skin.—Tendency to crack. — Absent. Thickness. — Thin.            Surface texture. — Glossy with a tendency to become greasy            at maturity. Lenticels. — Are present, approximately 0.2 to            approximately 0.4 mm in diameter, generally cream in color            (yellow-white RHS 158A), and at an average density of about            5 lenticels/cm². Color. — General color effect: About Red            RHS 53A. Ground color: At maturity, about Yellow RHS 2C.            Over color: About Red RHS 53A with paler sections about Red            RHS 46B. Russetting: Slight amount inside stem cavity.        -   Flesh.—Flavor. — Mild, sweet, low-acid flavor. Brix. —            Approximately 10.9 to approximately 13.5 Brix (Average            approximately 12.9 Brix). Juiciness. — Moderately juicy.            Color. — About Yellow-White RHS 158A. Aroma. — Slight.        -   Core.—While the calyx can be open in about 60 percent of            fruit, the calyx tube is closed and the core lines are            defined. Shape. — Round to slightly elongate. Diameter. —            Approximately 24.7 mm. Number of bundles. — Approximately 10            per fruit. Core length. — Approximately 41.1 mm (measured            from point of fruit stem attachment to calyx end at point of            sepal attachment). Calyx tube length. — Approximately 13.7            mm (measured as length from the calyx end at point of sepal            attachment to the point of calyx tube closure).        -   Seed.—Number. — About 1 to 2 seeds per cell. Shape. — Acute            in shape. Length. — Approximately 9.56 mm. Width. —            Approximately 5.0 mm. Color. — About Greyed-Orange RHS 175A.        -   Fruit production.—First picking date in the Year 13 season            at the research station in Queensland Australia was about            the 9^(th) of February, and last picking date was about            26^(th) of February.        -   Storage.—Fruit remains fresh at room temperature            (approximately 20° C.) for approximately 7 days, and can be            stored up to approximately 4 months in cold storage (about            1° C. or about 34° F.).        -   Usage.—Fresh eating.

COMPARISONS TO COMMERCIAL APPLE TREE VARIETIES

Ten typical apples of ‘RS103-110’ and of the cultivar ‘Royal Gala’ fromtrees growing near to one another, were obtained on the 18^(th) ofFebruary and 5^(th) of February of Year 13, respectively, and tested forthe traits listed in Table 1. The approximate average values of thetraits for ‘RS103-110’ and ‘Royal Gala’ are listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Trait ‘RS103-110’ ‘Royal Gala’ Firmness (pressure kg/cm²)  9.0 7.4 Starch Index  5.5  5.7 on scale of 1 (high starch) to 6 (lowstarch) Soluble Solids 12.9% 13.6% Apple scab resistance ResistantSusceptible

1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree designated ‘RS103-110’ asillustrated and described herein.